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Wednesday, May 25, 2016

OF SELFIES AND POUTING HIJABIS

O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies . That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever OftForgiving, Most Merciful”

[al-Ahzaab 33:59]

One thing that has not been understood by Muslims and non-Muslims is in relation to the Hijab. While the non-Muslims are quick to pounce on Hijabis/Niqabis with the infamous "oppressed/backward/slave" tag, sadly, even Muslims need to understand the concept of Hijab properly.

The biggest misconception is that people believe that the Hijab is just the headscarf and once you don that, you have fulfilled the obligation of wearing the Hijab. Sisters, you know as well as I do that this is not true. Hijab is so much more than just the scarf you wrap around your head. It's a set of morals and a code of conduct. This is the Hijab the Quran tells us about

“And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and for their hearts”

[al-Ahzaab 33:53]

An important note here: I've heard a lot of people comment on this Ayah saying that it applies only to the wives of the Prophet Salallahu alaihi wasallam. So here's my question: If Allah has commanded this for the wives of our Prophet, then what is the case with us? Do we think we are better than the Ummahatul Mu'mineen that we don't need to follow this Ayah?

So, this is where the topic really heats up. Is it ok for Muslimahs to upload pictures of themselves online? If Allah has commanded that we Muslimahs should speak from behind a screen and that this is purer for our hearts and for their's, then I'll let you think for yourself about publicly uploading your pictures online.Just think of it: there are probably hundreds of online psychopaths who are probably staring hard at the picture you uploaded right now! *shudder*

Before jumping into conclusions that I am an extremist, let me make things clear. This is a really wide topic so please make sure that you read it right up to the end before coming to any conclusion.

Uploading pictures online has taken huge leaps and is still taking, in fact. Hijabis uploading pictures of themselves with their faces dolled up with make-up and with their hair uncovered in some cases too. And more recently, the obsession with the pout and selfies. Need I even mention what a provocative pose the pout is and what kind of respect are we giving the Hijab if we pout with the Hijab and upload those pictures online? I don't meant to be harsh, but what do you really expect out of uploading your pictures online? Is a few likes and "MashaAllah's" really worth it when you are displeasing Allah? This also applies to a few Niqabis who upload their pictures online with their eyes heavily made up. I'm not giving away Fatwas or anything like that because of course, I have no authority to do so. But just think for yourself- do you think it's a good thing to do and what do you really gain by it?

For the Sake of Allah sisters, read this with an open mind. It may be that you are not aware of the dangers you are causing to yourself and the people who are actually viewing your picture. It is true that just like women, men need to lower their gaze, but aren't we responsible for what we give them to gaze at? And if they gaze at our pictures (which is obviously a huge possibility given the fact that we have probably uploaded our best picture), shouldn't we share the burden of that sin too? Trust me on this sisters: It is NOT worth it!

While I am at it, I really need to point out another thing to the brothers. Please make it easier for the sisters to lower their gaze online too because lowering the gaze is a command for the women just as it is for the men.

Like I mentioned at the start of the post, some of you might want to lash out at this being too extreme, but please remember what Allah says in the Quran about Shaytan making our deeds fair seeming to us.

"... but Satan made their deeds attractive to them" [Quran 16: 63]

"And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, "Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?" And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one." [Quran 18: 49]And what will Shaytan who tempted us to upload our pictures online say on that Day?"And Satan will say when the matter has been concluded, "Indeed, Allah had promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I betrayed you. But I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me; but blame yourselves" [Al Quran 14: 22]

On that day, we are going to regret, but how will that regret benefit us? Change yourself today, and In Sha Allah on the Day of Reckoning, we will be free from any regret, In sha Allah.